Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 9: In a PIL seeking removal of the encroachments on water bodies, wetland reserves and other reserves in J&K and restore them in their original form, a high court division bench of Chief Justice N Paul Vasanthakumar and Justice Bansi Lal Bhat today directed forest department to file status report regarding restoration of the water bodes as on today. The petitioner submitted that as J&K battled one of the worst floods in decades, environmentalists blamed encroachment of wetlands as the main reason for the devastation of life and property. He said notwithstanding the fact that wetlands "play an important role in preventing ecological catastrophe, majority of the marsh lands are not receiving any attention in J&K, resulting in their continues shrinking and making the state more prone to the disasters like the recent one which caused massive devastation. The height of the insensitivity towards this vital aspect can be gauged from the fact that no particular department has so far been assigned the task of conversion and preservation of these wetlands. As per NWIA, total area of J&K is about 2,22,236 sq km and there are about 3,651 wetlands spread in 391501 hectares of land. Some wetlands like Suriansar and Mansar lakes, Hokersar, Wular Lake and Tsomoriri have been included in the list of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar convention. Suriansar-Mansar lakes, Wular Lake and Sobrari have been included in the Prime Minister's Construction Package. Inspite of their inclusion in the Ramsar Convention and Prime Minister's Construction Package, the area of such wetlands is decreasing day by day due to the encroachment and other allied factors. |
